Washing-machine.



No. 812,138. PATENTED FEB. 6, 1906.

0. L. KELLY. WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13, 1905.

2 SHEETSSHEBT 1,

Smwwkn attouwy No. 812,138. PATENTED FEB. 6, 1906. C. L. KELLY.

' WASHING MACHINE.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ethane UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 6, 1906.

Application filed June 13, 1905. Serial No. 265,059.

To all whom, it may cancer-n:

Be it known that I, CHARLES L. KELLY, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Grant, in the county of Boone and State ofKentucky, have invented new and useful Im rovements {inWashing-Machines, of which t e following is a specification.

This invention relates to washing-machines, and has for its objects toproduce a comparatively simple inexpensive device of this character intowhich the clothes may be readily introduced, one wherein the clotheswill during the washing operation be subjected to a rubbing action andalso to pressure, thus forcing the water and suds through the fabric,and one wherein a relatively uniform movement will be imparted to therubbing members or boards, thereby insuring a uniform action upon andthorough cleansing of the fabric under treatment.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter including a pair of reversely-movable rubbing members orboards having suitably-roughened active faces, one wherein .water andsuds may readily enter the fabric disposed between the rubbing members,one wherein the latter will be strengthened to prevent splitting, andone wherein the clothes or fabric to be acted upon may be readilyintroduced or removed from between the boards.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter in which the reversely-movable members are connected foruniform movement, one wherein said members will be actuated by a commonactuating-crank, and one wherein the crank-receiving end of theoperating-shaft will have a water-tight bearing in the vessel or tub.

With these and other objects in view the invention comprises the novelfeatures of construction and combination of parts more fully hereinafterdescribed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of awashing-machine em bodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectionlongitudinally therethrough. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section ofthe same. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the upperboard-receivingframe. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the side members or barsfor the upper board. Fig. 6 is a similar view of one of the side membersor bars for the lower board. Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation of thejournal for the crank-shaft.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a the ends of the board, therebeing at the corners of each member 19 suitablevessel or tub, preferablyof rectangular form, as shown, and sustained by legs 2, there beingprovided at the rear upper end of the tub a shield 3, these parts allbeing of any appropriate form and material. Extended transversely of thevessel, adjacent, respectively, its front and rear ends, is a pair ofshafts 4 5, j ournaled for rotation in the side walls of the vessel andeach having fixed thereon by setscrews 6 a pair of rocking members orlinks 7, each engaged at its longitudinal center with the adjacent shaftand extended equallyupon opposite sides thereof, the shaft 4 being eX-tended through one side wall of the vessel and having its outer endsquared or of other noncircular form for the reception of anoperating-crank 8. The crank-receiving end of the shaft 4 is journaledin a tubular bearing sleeve or bushing 9, threaded through the adjacentleg 2 and side wall of the tub and having its end projected slightlybeyond the outer face of the latter and terminating in a recess 10 toreceive the tubular externally-threaded portion 11 of a coupling memberor nut 12, there being disposed between the inner end of nut 12 and theadjacent end of the bearing-sleeve 9 a suitable packing-gasket 14 tocreate a water-tight joint.

Arranged in vertical spaced relation within the tub or vessel 1 is apair of cooperating rubbing members or boards 15 16, each having uponits inner active face a series of transversely disposed ribs 17,preferably of V shape in cross-section, there being formed in each boardand between adjacent pairs of ribs transversely-disposed rows ofopenings or perforations 18, through the medium of which water and sudsmay enter freely to the clothes or fabrics disposed between the boards.The upper board 15 has applied to its longitudinal edges metalstrengthening members or castings 19, each presenting a pair of spacedinwardly-extending flanges 20, between which the adjacent edge of theboard is received, and end portions 21, which overlap provided webs 22,designed to engage the normally outer face of the board at its corners.The upper board 15 seats in a rectangular supporting-frame 23,comprising side and end bars provided at their meeting corners and atthe lower edge of the frame with corner-webs 24, on which the boardnormally rests, said board bein hinged to one end of the frame by meansof a pintle or rod 25, entered through perforated ears 26, formed on theframe, and perforated ears or lugs 27, formed on the side members 19,whereby the board may be raised to permit introduction or removal of theclothes to or from position between the boards, the bin ed rubbingmember or board 15 being norma ly fixed in closed position by means of apivoted bolt or latch 28, designed for engagement beneath a flange orkeeper 29, formed upon one endbar of the frame 23, which latter is alsoprovided with depending perforated ears or lugs 30 tobe engaged byinwardly-projecting trunnions 31, provided on the links 7 for pivotallyconnecting the latter with the upper rubbing member or board.

The lowerrubbing member or board 16 has applied to its longitudinal sideedges straightening members or castings 32, presenting a pair of spacedflanges 33, between which the edge of the board is entered and havingend portions 34 to overlap the ends of the boards, as in the instance ofthe board 15 and its straightening members 9, there being formed uponeach of'the members or castings 32 upwardly-projecting perforated earsor lugs 35, also designed to receive trunnions 36 on the links 7, thusto pivotally connect the lower board 16 with the links.

The member or links 7 have extended therebetween and at opposite sidesof the shafts 4 5 closure members or boards 37, attached at their endsinany appropriate manner to the links and-designed for closing the ends ofthe clothes-receiving compartment produced by the rubbing members 15 16to prevent escape of the clothes or other fabric therefrom.

In practice the clothes to be washed are introduced between the rubbingmembers or boards 15 16 by swinging the latch 28-from engagement withkeeper 29 and turning-the board 15 upward on its hinge or pivot, itbeing understood that after the clothes are cleansedthey are removed ina similar manner. After the introduction of the clothes the board 15 isreturned to and locked in closed position and the operating-handle 8. isgrasped and reciprocated in the direction indicated by the double arrowin Fig. 1, thereby imparting a rocking motion to the shafts 4 and 5 andthrough the medium of links 7 reciprocating the boards 15 and 16 equallyin relatively reverse directions, it being noted that under thisoperation the boards will not only move longitudinally, but also towardand from each other, whereby the clothes openings 18 to the clothes inview, it

will be subjected to a rubbing action and an alternate squeezing orcompressing action, whereby they will be rapidly and throughly cleansed-During the washing operation water and suds will pass freely through theand when the latter are compressed will likewise p assoutward throughsaid openings, it being understood that under the action of the boards15 and 16 the water and suds will be alternately admitted to andsqueezed'from the fabric, which is also subjected to a rubbi'ng'action,as heretofore stated, thereby rapidly remov ing the dirt.

' From the foregoing it is apparent that I produce a simple inexpensivedevice admirably adapted for the attainment of theends being funderstood that minor changes in the details herein set. forth may beresorted to without-departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described-the invention, what I claim is 1. Inawashing-machine, atub, a pair of rock-shafts journaled therein, linkscarried by the rock-shafts, a frame pivoted to the normally upper endsof the links and pro- .vided with a keeper, a rubbing member pivoted tothe normally lower ends ofthe links, a second rubbing member pivoted atone end of the frame "and adapted to swing upward, and a locking membercarriedbythe second rubbing member for engagement with the keeper tolock said member infnormalposition in the frame; I

a 2; In a washing-machine, a tub, a pairuof rock shafts ,journaledtherein, links fixed upon the shafts to project normallyabove and belowthe same, closures extended between the links at opposite-sides ojf theshaft,

a frame pivoted to the upper ends of' the links and provided withakeeper, a rubbing member journaledto the'lower-ends ofthe links, asecond rubbing member pivoted in the frame and adapted to swing upwardther-efrom', a locking member carried by the second'rubbing member forengagement with the keeper 1 tolock the membei'in norm-ally closedposition, and means for operating-the shaftsto reciprocate therubbingmembers' relatively.

* In testimony whereof I afiix my' si'gnat'ure in presence of twowitnesses.

, CHARLES L, KELLY.

Witnesses AL ROGERS,

W; BARNOLD.

